My Genealogy Hound
Below is a family biography included in The History of Wayne County, Tennessee published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1886. These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary. Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more. There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.
* * * *
Amos T. Hassell is a son of Enoch and Joanna (Ensley) Hassell, and was born in Tyrell County, N. C., August 15, 1814 His parents were also natives of North Carolina. His father came to Tennessee in 1834, locating in Perry County (now Decatur County), where he followed farming, being a justice of the peace until his death, which occurred about the beginning of the war. He had been quite a distinguished politician in former years, and represented Tyrrell County in the North Carolina Legislature. Amos T. Hassell came to Tennessee with his father and at the age of twenty-one left home to do for himself, having little or no education. Later he acquired a good business education by his own exertions, and soon after leaving the paternal roof he began life as a clerk and soon engaged in the mercantile business for himself at Carrollville. In 1844 he came to Waynesboro and continued the same business until 1860, when he sold out and repaired to his farm in the Fourth District until 1871, when he returned to town and built his present large and commodious hotel and business house, and conducted both in his usual successful manner. In August, 1885, he retired from the management of the hotel, but still conducts his mercantile establishment. Mr. Hassell was engaged quite extensively in the mule trade, both before and after the war, and also managed a tannery, saddlery and shoe manufactory. He has in all probability contributed more to the business industries and prosperity of Wayne County than any other one citizen. April 30, 1846, he married Mary Ann Biffel, a sister of Col. Jacob Biffel. She died in 1860 leaving three children: Ella Ann (wife of Dr. Buchanan), Mary C. (Mrs. J. W. Montague), and Joanna (Mrs. John F. Montague). August 22, 1861, he married Mrs. Eliza Jane (Heron) Jones. They have one daughter, Laura E., the wife of Frank Boyd. Mr. Hassell is and always has been an unswerving Democrat in politics, and cast his first presidential vote for Van Buren. He served six years as clerk and master under Chancellor Stephen Provat before and up to the war, and also under Judge R. H. Rose after the war. He is a Mason, Royal Arch and Council degrees, and is one of the leading and enterprising business men of Wayne County.
* * * *
This family biography is one of 76 biographies included in The History of Wayne County, Tennessee published in 1886. The History of Lawrence County was included within The History of Lawrence, Wayne, Perry, Hickman & Lewis Counties of Tennessee. View the complete description here: History of Lawrence, Wayne, Perry, Hickman and Lewis Counties of Tennessee
View additional Wayne County, Tennessee family biographies here: Wayne County, Tennessee
Use the links at the top right of this page to search or browse thousands of other family biographies.